Tinnitus (Key Stage 2)

Tinnitus
This leaflet is targeted at young people in Key Stage 2
Written by Sandra Lawrence
Illustrations & Design by Kate Smith

What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is when your brain hears a sound inside your head or ears
that doesn’t have a matching sound outside. Some people hear
buzzing or ringing, others might hear whooshing or humming. A few
even hear musical sounds!
Tinnitus is very common. If you ask other children in your class, you
may be surprised how many hear noises in their ears at times. Most
people aren’t bothered by it but some find it quite upsetting. If you
are finding it annoying there are lots of things you can do to make it
better.

Am I going deaf?
It is important to get your ears checked if you think you have a
problem with your hearing or have noticed tinnitus. Your ears could
be blocked if you have a cold or a lot of ear wax.
If you already wear a hearing aid, you might be aware of tinnitus
when you aren’t wearing it, as the brain doesn’t have any outside
noises to listen to.
Will I get better?
In most cases tinnitus gets better and even goes away. This is
because the brain forgets it’s listening to the sound.
It’s called ‘habituation’.

Is there a cure?
Because tinnitus isn’t a disease, there isn’t a ‘cure’ for it but there
are loads of things you can do to make it better. If we listen out for
tinnitus our brains will think it is important and will keep listening
to it. Our bodies make lots of noises our brain usually doesn’t listen
to like chewing, or rumbling tummies. When it gets used to the
tinnitus the brain stops listening to that, too. It can help to give your
brain more interesting noises to listen to, such as quiet music or
the radio.

Will I need an operation?
There aren’t any operations for tinnitus, though sometimes
operations can treat things that cause tinnitus.
What can I do about it?
Everyone is different. Once you’ve worked out how tinnitus affects
you, and what makes it quieter, you can start to make up ways
to make it better. You might notice it’s quieter when there is
background noise, or the complete opposite, it is better when you
are in silence.

Often it’s very simple things like moving away from noisy people
in class or having a fan or a radio nearby that makes a small,
constant sound to soothe your brain.
Tinnitus can seem worse when you’re worried about something. You
can learn how to relax so your brain calms down. Talking with other
people about what your tinnitus is like and how it affects you can
help too.

Should I wear a hearing aid?
If you have a long term hearing loss, a hearing aid can help you hear
sounds around you better, and your brain will be able to ignore the
tinnitus sounds better.
Is there anything that will help
make my tinnitus quieter?
Sometimes playing some quiet music or having another sound, like
a fan or the radio in the background will help. You can also download
other sounds, such as waves on a beach, that may help relax your
brain.

Sometimes MY TINNITUS WON’T
LET ME SLEEP
There are lots of things you can try. Learning how to relax and calm
your mind can help. Try doing something quiet before you go to
bed, perhaps reading a book, so that your brain gets ready to sleep.
Watching TV or playing computer games just before bedtime makes
your brain excited, so that it’s not relaxed when you want to go to
sleep.

Sometimes I can’t hear my
teacher in class.
Other people can’t hear your tinnitus so they will not know you have
it unless you tell them. If it is a problem in class, do talk to your
teacher. That way if you can feel it coming on, your teacher can take
extra care to make sure you hear everything. If it gets very annoying,
sometimes being allowed to have a break can also be helpful.

Sometimes MY TINNITUS MAKE
ME FEEL SAD OR UPSET
While most children are not really bothered by their tinnitus, some
people can find it annoying at times. If it does make you feel
upset, there are lots of things that can help, such as learning to
relax properly and talking to other people about how you feel.

The most important thing is to keep healthy and enjoy your life.
When you’re having good times with hobbies, sports and fun things
your brain is less interested by the sounds tinnitus makes and just
ignores them.
There are lots of things to try when you need help, such as
relaxation and using sound. It’s important to remember that most
people’s tinnitus goes away by itself and you don’t need to do
anything.

Tinnitus
This leaflet is targeted young people in Key Stage 2
Information for those in other age groups is also available,
please contact us for copies.
Full details of all the information consulted in the production
of this leaflet are available on request.
Issued July 2021. Version 1.5. To be reviewed July 2024.
© British Tinnitus Association
© Design & illustrations by Kate Smith 2014
The British Tinnitus Association
Ground Floor, Unit 5,
Acorn Business Park,
Woodseats Close,
Sheffield
S8 0TB
United Kingdom
Email: helpline@tinnitus.org.uk
Helpline: 0800 018 0527
www.tinnitus.org.uk
The British Tinnitus Association.
Registered charity no: 1011145.
Company limited by guarantee no: 2709302.
Registered in England
Whilst the BTA makes every attempt to ensure
the accuracy and reliability of this information,
it is not a substitute for medical advice.
You should always see your GP/medical professional.